Almost 100 million first doses of vaccine have been already administered to combat coronavirus in the country. Bangladesh is far ahead than many other countries of the world in ensuring vaccination for its citizens.
More than 64.6 million people have received the second dose of vaccine so far. The vaccination programme accelerated as the government has availed vaccines at municipality, union, city corporation level and community clinics across the country.
Nationwide Covid-19 vaccination in Bangladesh began on January 27 in 2021 by administering the first jab to a nurse at Kurmitola General Hospital.
Runu Veronica Costa, a senior staff nurse at Kurmitola General Hospital, took the first dose of the vaccine in the country.
Later, the mass vaccination programme started on February 7 last year. Within just one year, the number of people who have received the first dose of vaccine in the country is on the verge of reaching 100 million.
DGHS Spokesperson Prof Dr Nazmul Islam unveiled the matter during the regular health bulletin on country’s overall Covid-19 situation on Sunday.
He said, “The number of people vaccinated with the first dose would cross 100 million milestone on Sunday. More than 98.9 million people have already received the first dose of vaccine in the country.”
“This number will exceed 10 crore (100 million) by Sunday. More than 64.6 million people have received the second dose of vaccine. The government has been working to ensure that the marginalised and physically challenged people go to the vaccination centers and get vaccinated. A total of 14.1 million students have received the first dose of vaccine and 2.6 million students have received the second dose,” he said.
He further said that Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the country is going on for more than a year.
“Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has launched several special programmes and campaigns to speed up the vaccination procedure. Besides the vaccination centers designated for Covid-19, vaccines were administered in several phases in the wards of union, municipality and city corporations. At present vaccines are being administered at community clinics as well with a view to assuring vaccines for all,” he added.
Regarding the situation of Covid-19 infection, Nazmul Islam said, “There has been a downward trend in the infection for the last two days.”
“However, it cannot be said that the overall situation has been improving as the cases of coronavirus are not decreasing. The death toll is still high,” he said.
He also said that coronavirus infection is more prevalent in Dhaka than any other areas of the country.
“Now the number of Covid dedicated beds in Dhaka’s hospitals is 5,253. Of these, 4,059 are vacant. Excessive pressure on hospitals has not yet been created. If people follow the hygiene rules properly and wear mask, the situation will remain favourable,” he said.
Initially, only Oxford University's AstraZeneca vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India, was given to the people of Bangladesh. However, later, Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines were also administered in phases.
Health experts are saying that the government has stepped up its efforts to vaccinate 70 percent of the country's population or 11.7 million people (first, second and booster doses) against coronavirus.
According to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is possible to create herd immunity (public health disease prevention system) by bringing 70 percent of the population of any country under vaccination.